The state of Michigan has issued the permits needed for the city to begin using the Flint River for drinking water, a major step toward ending water purchases from the city of Detroit as early as next week.

"They've got a series of construction permits" that were issued Wednesday, April 10, said Brad Wurfel, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality. "They are racing to get all this work done."

The permits have been on Flint's to-do list since the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said it was terminating its contract to sell water here on April 17.

That deadline was issued one year ago, and city and state water officials have been working and consulting on required upgrades at Flint's water treatment plant since.

Flint spokesman Jason Lorenz said today, April 10,that the city is still targeting April 17 as the day to shut off Lake Huron water -- treated and pumped here by DWSD -- and to turn on the intakes into the river.

Because work is still going on inside and outside the city's treatment plant, the exact time and date for the switch hasn't been set yet, Lorenz said.

Earlier this week, Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley called the city's ability to cut out the cost of water purchases from Detroit a "monumental change" for the city.

"The city of Flint will be able to control water costs," Earley said. "I'm kind of glad we're not a part of that discussion (about the future of the Detroit water system) anymore."

A consultant hired by Earley is expected to recommend new water rates during a City Council committee meeting at 5 p.m. today. The emergency manager has already said rates will not be reduced because of upgrades that are needed in Flint's water distribution system.

Flint officials will need that infrastructure upgrade whether they use river or lake water. City officials have signed an agreement to use Lake Huron water supplied by the Karegnondi Water Authority once the pipeline it is building is completed -- something that's expected to happen in 2016.